Massachusetts Department of
Elementary and Secondary Education
75 Pleasant Street, Malden, Massachusetts 02148-4096
Telephone: (781) 338-3700
TTY: N.E.T. Relay 1-800-439-2370
April 1, 2010
Robert Brick, Executive Director
Pioneer Valley Performing Arts Charter Public School
15 Mulligan Drive
South Hadley, MA 01075
Re: Mid-cycle Report
Dear Mr. Brick:
Enclosed is the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's Mid-cycle Report based on the Mid-cycle
Review conducted in your district in March 2010. In this Mid-cycle Review the Department monitored selected
special education criteria to determine your district’s compliance with special education laws and regulations. The
review consisted of information gathered from a staff interview, review of student records, examination of
documentation, and classroom observation.
We are pleased to tell you that the Department has found your district to be in compliance with all of the criteria
monitored in your district during the Mid-cycle Review. The findings of the Department are included in the enclosed
report. You and your entire staff are to be congratulated for your success in implementing the requirements included
in these criteria.
The Department will notify you of your district's next regularly scheduled Coordinated Program Review (CPR)
several months before it is to occur. At this time we anticipate that this CPR will occur sometime during the 20122013 academic year unless the Department determines that there is some reason to schedule this visit earlier.
Your staff's cooperation throughout this Mid-cycle Review is appreciated. If you have questions about this letter or
the enclosed report, please do not hesitate to contact Sandra Hanig at 413-858-4591.
Sincerely,
Sandra K. Hanig, Mid-cycle Review Chairperson
Program Quality Assurance Services
Darlene A. Lynch, Director
Program Quality Assurance Services
cc:
Mitchell D. Chester, Ed.D., Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education
Beth Lopez, Supervisor, Program Quality Assurance Services
Dorie Shallcross, President, Board of Trustees
Charles Hopkins, Director of Academic Support
Enc:
Mid-cycle Report
1
MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION
MID-CYCLE REPORT
Pioneer Valley Performing Arts Charter Public School
Dates of the Mid-cycle Review Onsite: March 23, 2010
Date of this Report April 1, 2010
PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS REPORT IS IN TWO SECTIONS.
Required Special Education Criteria Monitored in this Mid-cycle Review
Current special education criteria available by scrolling down to the special education instrument at
http://www.doe.mass.edu/pqa/review/cpr/default.html
Criterion
Criterion
Implemented

SE 3
Special
Requirements
for the
Determination
of Specific
Learning
Disability
Implemented
Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
Basis of Determination about
Criterion
Student
Record
Review,
Documentation
Review and
Staff Interview
Review of student records and a
staff interview indicated that the
district is appropriately evaluating
students suspected of having a
specific learning disability. The
charter school is using all current
SLD forms. Written
documentation was found in the
student records, including signed
statements of agreement of all IEP
Team members.
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective
Action and
Timelines for Implementation
Pioneer Valley Performing Arts Charter Public School Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
April 1, 2010
Page 1 of 4
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
2
Criterion
Criterion
Implemented

SE 52A
Implemented
Registration
of
Educational
Interpreters
Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
Basis of Determination about
Criterion
Documentation
Review and
Staff Interview
Review of the charter school’s
documentation and an interview
indicated that the district does not
currently have a deaf or hard of
hearing student enrolled who
requires the assistance of an
interpreter. The charter school is
aware of the requirements for the
registration of educational
interpreters and will contact the
registry at the Commission for the
Deaf when a qualified interpreter
must be hired.
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective
Action and
Timelines for Implementation
Pioneer Valley Performing Arts Charter Public School Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
April 1, 2010
Page 2 of 4
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
3
Additional Special Education Criteria Monitored in this Mid-cycle Review
Current special education criteria available by scrolling down to the special education instrument at
http://www.doe.mass.edu/pqa/review/cpr/default.html
Criterion
SE 27
Criterion
Implemented

Method(s) of
Investigation
Basis of Determination about
Criterion
Implemented
Student
Record
Review
Review of student records and a
staff interview indicated that the
charter school is appropriately
notifying parents of who will be
in attendance at each scheduled
IEP Team meeting. Written
documentation was found in
student records, including an
invitation to the team meeting,
which included a list of IEP
Team members expected to be in
attendance.
Implemented
Documentation
Review and
Staff Interview
Review of all special education
teacher qualifications and a staff
interview indicated that all
teachers hold current
Massachusetts licensure in
special education or have taken
and passed required state
examinations to be considered
highly qualified.
Content of
Team
Meeting
Notice to
Parents
SE 51
Appropriate
Special
Education
Teacher
Licensure
Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective Action
and Timelines for Implementation
Pioneer Valley Performing Arts Charter Public School Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
April 1, 2010
Page 3 of 4
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
4
Criterion
SE 52
Appropriate
Certifications
/ Licenses or
Other
Credentials –
Related
Services
Criterion
Implemented

Implemented
Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
Basis of Determination about
Criterion
Documentation
Review and
Staff Interview
Review of qualifications and a
staff interview indicated that all
related services providers hold
current Massachusetts licensure
or board certification in their
profession.
If Partially Implemented or Not
Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective Action
and Timelines for Implementation
Providers
Pioneer Valley Performing Arts Charter Public School Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
April 1, 2010
Page 4 of 4
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements